| Instructors Chief
Instructor - Mr. Jobe Groot
The Director and Chief
Instructor of Mountain Coast Aikikai is Mr. Jobe Groot, 5th dan, Shidoin.
Mr. Groot began his study of
Aikido in 1979, and received intensive training under the direction of Dr.
F.I. Ishiyama, 6th dan, Professor
Y. Kawahara, 8th dan, Shihan, and Professor
T.K. Chiba, 8th dan, Shihan.
Groot Sensei formed the Mountain
Coast Aikikai (formerly
Richmond Aikikai) in 1991 and has served there as Director and Chief Instructor since the
school opened. |
| Groot
Sensei presently holds the rank of Godan (5th degree black belt) from Aikikai
Hombu Dojo (Aikido World Headquarters) and Birankai
North America, as well as the teaching certification of Shidoin
(certified instructor). He is a member of the Teacher's Council of Birankai North
America. In addition many years of
training in, and teaching Aikido, Mr. Groot has also trained intensively in several other
martial arts and body-mind disciplines - these include: Jujitsu, Kenjutsu, Iaido,
Taijiquan (Tai Chi Chuan), Qigong (Chi Kung), Zazen (Zen Buddhist
meditation), Yogic meditation, Hatha Yoga and Pilates.
Groot Sensei travels from time
to time to instruct at seminars and training intensives and has taught seminars in Canada,
the United States, Europe and South-East Asia.
Assistant Instructors
Selected classes at Mountain Coast
Aikikai are taught by designated assistant instructors. Assistant instructors at
Mountain Coast Aikikai each have over 15 years of Aikido experience and are holders of
black belt rank, recognized by Aikikai Hombu Dojo
(Aikido World Headquarters) and Birankai
North America.
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